Indicator for ball games.



No. 708,569. a Patented Sept. 9, I902.

E. MANLEY.

INDICATOR FOR BALL GAMES.

(Application filed Oct. 9, 1901.)

(No Model.)

INVENTOR WIT/YE 5.

ATEN

EDWARD MANLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INDICATOR FOR BALL GAMES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent-No. 708,569, datedSeptember 9, 1902.

Application filed October 9, 1901. Serial No. 78,143. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD MANLnY, residing at Chicago, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Indicators for Ball Games; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact descrip' tion of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention is an improved device to be used in ball games todetermine whether the pitcher throws the ball accurately and to enablethe umpire and spectators to determine positively whether balls orstrikes are pitched. At the same time the device is of assistance to thepitcher, as it constitutes an indicator or guide by which he is enabledto more accurately pitch the ball within safe limits.

The indicator, in brief, consists of a visual device which is arrangedbetween the pitcher and batter or catcher and is constructed of verylight fragile or yielding material, sothat it will not obstruct theflight of the ball nor interfere with the movements or vision of theplayers, and the pitcher must throw the ball correctly past or throughthis indicator; otherwise it will be counted as a ball against him, and,on the other hand, if the pitcher puts the ball correctly past orthrough the indicator it will be counted as a strike against the batsmanwhether he actually hits at the ball or not.

The invention is capable of embodiment in various forms and ways and istherefore not restricted to the particular constructions indicated inthe drawings, which are the best now known to me, however, but are shownas illustrating, notas limiting, the invention, the scope of which isbest defined in the claims.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is aperspective view illustrating oneembodiment of the invention and the mode of use thereof. Fig. 2 is adetail front view of the indicator shown in Fig. 1, and Figs. 3 and iare views of modifications of the indicator.

In said drawings, A designates the homeplate of a base-ball field, and Bis the indicator, which may be located at any convenient points betweenthe pitchers and catchers positions where it will not interfere with thebatsman or base-runners. I do not confine myself to any precise locationof the indicator, as that may be varied to suit the players and game.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the indicator is composed of a rectangularframe B of a width and height sufficient to embrace or include atransverse section of the area within which a ball can be safelypitched, and the frame is placed transversely across the propertrajectory of the ball, so that if correctly pitched it will passthrough the frame and be counted a strike or error against the batsmanif he does not hit the ball; but if the ball is pitched outside theframe it will be counted a ball or error against the pitcher. This framemay be formed of any suitable material-such as cord, paper, strips,&c.which will be perceptible without presenting much surface and willnot obstruct vision nor interfere with the movements of the players orof the ballthat is, in case of contact of a player or of the ball withthe indicator the latter will immediately yield or give Way Withoutresistance, so that it constitutes no actual obstruction on the field.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the indicatorframe is composed of two slightvertical members b b and two horizontal members 5 b, attached to thevertical members at suitable distances apart, so as to allow the pitchera proper range or variation in the trajectory of the ball. These membersI) b may be suspended from an overhead wire 0, strung at such a heightas not to interfere with the ball or players. Where the frame is made oflight but sufficiently stiff material, the overhead support might beomitted. The lower ends of members I) are suitably anchored, so that theframe will be held in position.

As shown in Fig. 3, the indicator is arranged directly over thehome-plate A, and the horizontal members I) of the indicator (shown inFigs. 1 and 2) are omitted, and instead the vertical members 19 aremarked by a distinct color for a suitable portion of their length, asindicated at b Fig. 3, so that if the ball. passes between or besidethese portions 1) its correct trajectory can be readily determined.

In Fig. i the indicator comprises but one vertical member I), which maybe marked at a proper point by a distinctive color, as indicated at 17These modifications indicate how the invention may be embodied invarious forms when once known, and I do not limit myself to the specificforms shown in drawings.

From the foregoing the essential features of the invention will bereadily understood, and the particular form or composition of theindicator B and the manner in which the same is supported or retained inposition may be altered to suit the pleasure of the constructor. In casethe indicator is ruptured it can be quickly repaired with little loss oftime and slight expense.

The advantages of using the indicator are obvious, as it will serve as aguide for the pitcher and will enable the umpire to determine visuallyandcorrectly the accuracy of the pitchers work and whether thetrajectory of the ball constitutes the play a ball or a strike.

Having thus described my invention, what I therefore claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, is-

1. A device for use in ball games, comprising an indicator interposedbetween the pitchers and catchers positions and defining or bounding theusual or determined trajectory of the ball, substantially as described.

2. An indicator for ball games, comprising 1 a light non -resistingvertical device interposed between the pitchers and catchers positionsto determine the correct trajectory of a pitched ball, substantially asdescribed.

3. An indicator for ball games, comprising a slight frame interposedbetween the pitchers and catchers positions, by which the ball is to bepitched, for the purpose and substantially as described.

4. In an indicator for ball games, the combination of two verticalmembers anchored between the pitchers and catchers positions, saidmembers being of slight proportions and arranged to determine thecorrect trajectory of the pitched ball, substantially as described.

5. In an indicator for ball games, the combination of an overheadsupport, a pair of Vertically-arranged members suspended therefrom at apoint between the pitchers and catchers positions, and transversemembers attached to the vertical members to form therewith a framethrough which the ball must be pitched, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

EDWARD MANLEY.

Witnesses:

EDWIN L. MILLER, CHARLES P. MEGAN.

